Holding On To Heaven (Allendale Four 2)

“Same with us,” Oliver said. “Double-header this weekend.”

“We’ll figure something out,” I said. “Text her or call. Drop by. Whatever it takes.” I pinned Hayden with a stare. “And make sure you’re good.”

He nodded and looked up at the clocktower over the student center. “Shit, I gotta run.”

“Me, too.” Oliver said.

I watched them go and started back to my room. I had the next few hours free. We’d come a long way since the start of our relationship. I didn’t want to lose it now.

23

Noah waited for me outside my Psych class with his backpack slung over his shoulder. He carried himself with a confidence I didn’t recall from before and I wondered for a brief moment if he was a vampire, sucking away my energy and taking it for himself.

Maybe not a vampire—not cute enough, but he definitely was a parasite.

“Hey babe,” he said, using the term her boys called her. It ma

de her skin crawl but one thing she noticed about Noah was that the more she pushed back, the more he continued. He eyed her outfit. “You look amazing.”

“I look like a Stepford Wife.”

He reached for my hand and I let him take it.

“I knew your hair would look good like that.”

I shook my head. “Why do you care what my hair looks like? Or my clothes?”

“Because we’re trying to convey an image here, Heaven.” He pulled me against his side and directed me down the path between buildings. “You’re the sweet, virginal co-ed. I’m the dedicated, hardworking Christian.”

I squirmed away but he held tight. “Gross, Noah. No one thinks that but you.”

“You don’t think so?” he asked, glancing around us. Sure enough, even though we were on a huge campus a few people seemed to be watching us.

“Why do they even care?” None of it made sense to me.

“People are nosy, but I’d think you’d know that from your past online exposure.”

I stopped and this time moved away from his body. “Noah, what happened to me in high school is a long, complicated story. It involves a prank, more pranks, and a sexual predator going to jail. I don’t think that’s a game plan you want to emulate.”

He stepped forward. “Kiss me.”

I frowned. “What?”

“Kiss me. Or I call my dad.”

His brown eyes carried a darkness I didn’t want to test. I leaned into him and went for his cheek, planning a chaste peck. He caught me, pulling me close and slammed his mouth into mine. The kiss was too hard, his tongue demanding. I dropped my chin and turned my neck to get away. “Needs a little work,” he said in my ear. “Meet me at the University Church tomorrow night at six. We’re having a dinner.”

At least it would be in public, I thought, feeling the need to wipe him off my mouth. He ran his hand down my arm.

“Heaven?”

I spun and found Amber and Ginger walking toward us.

“Hey guys,” I said, using the interruption as an excuse to break away and hug my friend. When we pulled apart, I introduced them. “This is Noah. We met through our dads. Noah, this is my friend and roommate, Amber. And this is Ginger.”

Noah nodded his head in greeting, eyes sweeping over the girls. There was obviously nothing about either girl that screamed “lesbian” or “I’m bisexual” but Noah was savvy and had a knack for ferreting out personal information for his own purpose. A deep sense of dread coiled in my stomach. I didn’t want him near these girls. Not when Amber’s housing depended on my father and he knew about her relationship…

“You’ve got class now, right?” I said to Noah. “I’ll be at the dinner. Thank you for the invitation.”